Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Bowling vows to repeal 54% increase in Liquor Fees

For Immediate Release

Contact: Scott Bowling, 443-822-3170Corey Stottlemeyer (301) 331-8028

Bowling vows to repeal 54% increase in Liquor Fees

(Annapolis, MD, October 19,2009) Today, Scott Bowling (Candidate for Alderman, Ward 3)denounced Mayor Ellen Moyer, Finance Committee Chair Classie Hoyle, and the rest of theAnnapolis City Council for the 54-percent increase in liquor fees for restaurants, taverns,package goods stores, and hotels and vows to introduce a budget amendment to repeal thisincrease when elected on November 3rd• These fee increases on residents and businesses that are buried in the budget and passed by the Council under a cloud of secrecy must end.

According to The Capital editorial on Sunday, October 18,2009, Finance Committee Chair,Alderwoman Classie Hoyle stated "the liquor license fees were in the budget, had anyonebothered to look". The Capital goes on to say, "That's the problem: The council thinks it's thetaxpayer's responsibility, not its own, to know about fee increases. The Alderman would rathertell us about awards and plastic bag bans."

"Once again, the Mayor and Council are going out of their way to hurt our local businesses inAnnapolis," said Bowling. "Worse yet, they are making these laws in a vacuum. They are nottalking to the businesses that are affected by the fee hikes."

These new fees come on top of a 30-percent increase from the previous year, placing liquor feesin Annapolis significantly higher than Baltimore City and other Maryland municipalities.

"In these tough economic times, the Mayor and City Council should be working with businesses,not taxing them," said Bowling. "Unfortunately, this is what we have come to expect fromAlderwoman Hoyle, Mayor Moyer, and their cohorts at City Hall."

"At best the Council was negligent in approving these fees without a more transparent process," said Bowling. "At worst, they were deceptive."